Kings' Road Trip Struggles as Hiller Implements Key Adjustments

Head Coach Jim Hiller experimented with a lineup change that has long been seen as a last resort and the apparent choice to spark the offense. Kevin Fiala, a game-time decision due to illness, was paired with Quinton Byfield. This duo had been expected to become the next 'big thing' pairing in the forward group during the offseason.

Still, their early-season results did not meet expectations, leading to Warren Foegele taking over the left wing for Byfield, becoming more or less a staple next to the up-and-coming center. However, with the Kings' offense struggling as much as it has all season, Fiala was paired with Byfield against Florida for the first time since the season's first few weeks.

In a 3-0 loss, the Florida Panthers left little for the Kings to feel positive about afterward. However, the combination of Fiala and Byfield showed promise. In 15 minutes and 52 seconds of ice time together (all situations via NST), they recorded a 69.23% Corsi and a 57.69% Fenwick, with shots tied at 9-9, while leading in scoring chances at 8-6 and high-danger chances at 5-3.

Despite the lack of overall positives in the game, the trio displayed potential against a formidable opponent.

Foegele was teamed with Phillip Danault and his longtime winger Trevor Moore with the swap. This trio has all the quality ingriedients to function as a true shutdown line. Shutting down top opposition was one of the main reasons Danault was brought in during the 2021-22 season but has since strayed from that cause due to him being the only consistent center Fiala can play with.

The other newly formed trio showed some promise during the game, although the Panthers played a very simple, North-South, clog-the-neutral zone style once they established a two-goal lead. In 13 minutes and 28 seconds, this line achieved a 60% Corsi and a 55% Fenwick. They outshot and out chanced their opponents 6-5 and 6-2, respectively, but they were outscored 1-0 while on the ice.

There's plenty to build on from these two lines.

Although the current road trip has the potential to end without a win (0-2-1 with Tampa and Carolina still to play), the Kings have welcomed Drew Doughty's return and begun to tweak the lineup. With time, these adjustments may unlock the best in both the Danault and Byfield lines, with Doughty also potentially coming to form.

Even with his return, fans went into uproar about Brandt Clarke's healthy scratch. The defensive corps still needs figuring out.

Upon returning home from this road trip, the Kings will have a plethora of home games to fully explore the capabilities of these two lines while simultaneously figuring out the best configuration for the defensive core while Doughty gets ramped up.

The top line remains strong, although offensively dry. With Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Alex Turcotte in good health, they should stay a top-line flag bearer. While the top line hasn't been producing recently, the Byfield line can hopefully start to generate offense with Fiala, finally clicking with a center other than Danault. This should, in return, allow Danault to return to his primary role of shutting down opposing lines. The placements and roles should exercise Kopitar's offensive upside and alleviate any matchup challenges that Byfield wasn't already taking off his hands.

The road trip has begun to resemble a season-long offensive struggle, which was masked by solid secondary scoring at the start of the year. All is not lost, as these new line configurations could be exactly what the Kings need.

Let's just leave Murphy's Law out of this one for now.